Flash light



May 24, 1932. J VOORHEES 1,859,481

FLASH LIGHT Filed Sept. 15, 1928 INVENTOR: ou/ .g/" l -BY (7 W A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES LEE J". VOORHEES, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FLASH LIGHT Application filed September 15, 1928. Serial No. 306,196.

This invention pertains to improvements in battery operated hand lamps or flashlights, and more specifically to-means or securing a more accurate focus in such lamps.

Broadly the object'of this invention is to provide a hand lamp containing improve: ments in the structure shown in the applicants Patent No. 1,668,881, together with improvements in the lateral focusing mechanism shown by H. W. Jones in his Patent Number 1,610,289. 7

In the hand lamp construction shown in the applicants above mentioned patent, the irregular shaped central terminal of the r lamp bulb seats against the hollow rivet in the bottom of the lamp socket. This tends to throw the lamp bulb out of alignment with the socket so the lamp filament is out of axial alignment with reflector and'the projected beam of light is distorted and lessened in intensity. 7 Therefore, one of the specific objects of this invention is to provide a hand lamp having a bulb socket witha lamp bulb seat that will hold the lamp bulb in axial alignment with the bulb socket.

Furthermore, when the lamp bulb is seated in the bulb socket there is no resiliency between the lamp bulb and the rivet upon which it seats so vibration tendsto loosen the bulb in the bulb socket. Therefore, another object of this invention is to provide a hand lamp with a bulb socket having a resilient contact with suiiicient friction to prevent the bulb'from'becoming loosened in the socket and disconnected from the battery circuit.

In handlamps constructed with a small head, as shown in the applicants patent above mentioned, it is desirable, and sometimes necessary, to use lamp bulbs having a glass globe of small size. When the bulb socket and reflector are made ina unit as shown, it is frequently difficult to remove and replace the lamp bulb without injuring or soiling the reflector. Therefore, another object of this invention is to provide a hand lamp having, a bulb socket from which a bulb may soiling the reflector. V

In miniature lamp bulbs, such as used in hand lamps and flashlights, the filament is be readily removed without injuring or frequently not on the axis of the lamp base. Consequently, when such alamp bulb is used 1n a hand lamp, the bulb filament is not on Brit,

the axis of the reflector and, as a result, the pro ected beam of light is distorted and filament is in alignment with the-lamp base or not. This is a cause of much annoyance to the users who have no inclination to make the finer adjustments and are satisfied with ordinary results. of this'invention is the provision of a hand lamp having a bulb filament and reflector aligning device that normally holds the filament of a concentric lamp in alignment with the reflector axis, but maybe manually moved Therefore, another object to position the filament of an eccentric lamp I at the axis of the reflector.

Other aims and objects of, this invention will be apparent fromthe specification and drawing.

The objects of this invention are attained.

containing the usual battery B of dry cells.

These cells may be inserted and removedv through the bottom end of the casing 10 *which is closed by a removable cap 11 carrying a conductive battery support 12 forming electrical contact with the bottom of the battery B and also a compartment for spare bulbs. j i

The topor head end 15 of the casing 10 is slightly enlarged and threaded to receive a conversely threaded head fitting 16having an inwardly projecting head 17 formed in its wall just above the threaded portion The of thecasing 10.

' Surroundin the u) er ortion of the head fitting 16, from which it is spaced, is a clamping ring 22 having a central threaded portion 23, an upper edge 24 turned inward at a slight angle and seated against the under side of the flange19,and aninturned lower edge 25 that may rest against. the outside of that portion of the wall of the head fittin formin the u Der side of the'bead 17.

z: in P1 A threaded "bezel 25 is screwed over the threaded portion. 23 of the clamping ring 22 and thereby clamps the cover glass G andre-.

fleet-or R to the head fitting 16, and a ring of resilient material C such as sponge rubber is confined in a partially compressed condition between the inner surface of the clamping ring 22and the other surface of the head fitting 16, thereby "normally holding the ring 22, bezel 26, cover glass G;-and reflector R, in axial alignment with the lamp bulb L.

Fitting snugly within the threaded P01- tion ofthe casing 10 is a sleeve 27 of insulating material such as fiber or paper. Carried by the sleeve 27 is a transversely extending diaphragm 23 having a cylindrical upturned edge 29 that fits snugly within the sleeve 27 and an outturned edge forming a flange 30 that rests on the upper end of the sleeve 27. Between the flange 3O oftlie diaphragm 23 and the inturned bead 17 of the 7 head fitting 16 is an apertured washer 31 of insulating material that insulates theflange 30 from the bead 17. When the head fitting 16 is screwed on the casing 10 the inturned head 17 clamps the washer 31, flange 30'of the diaphragm 28, and sleeve 27'totheend Integral with the diaphragm 28 andfl depending rom the center thereoi is a flange or sleeve in which slides a bulb socket, 33

ran

having internal threads in the upper end thereof that receive and hold a conversely threaded bulb L so the bottom of the metal bulb base 34 seats upon an annular shoulder 35 extending inwardly from thewall'of the socket at the bottom of the threaded portion thereby holding the bulb in alignment with the socket and preventing any tendency for the bulb to cook sidewise out of alignment Encircling the sleeve 32 and socket 33, and confined between the under side of the diaphragm 28 and the upper side of an annular flange '33 extending outwardly from thelower end of the lampsocket 33, a partially compressed retractile spring 37 that tends to hold the lamp socket 33 in its lowermostposition with the annular flange. 38 ex tending outwardly from the upper end of the lamp socket in contact with the upper side of the diaphragm 28. Riveted in a recess in the bottom of the lamp socket 33 is an apertured washer 39 of insulating material such as fiber or bakelite, and riveted in the aper turein the center of the washer 39 isa conductor 40 having an enlarged end 41 extending downward and making contact with the positive terminal 42 of the battery B, and a reduced end 43 extending upwardly into the lamp socket 33. Surrounding and supported by the reduced portion 43' of the conductor 40 is a: bulb contacting spiral'spring 44 that i'its loosely around the end 43 and is held thereto by its lower convolution 45 which is contracted so it: grips the lower part of the end 413: The upper convolution 46 of the spring 44 is formed so itJl-ies approximately in a plane transverse to the axis of the lamp bulband so that practically the entire upper convolution 46,011 several portions thereof, are in contact with the central terminal of the lamp bulb L; The retarding force of the friction between the central terminal of the bulb L and the upper convolution 46' of the spring 44 is greater than the rotative force of the spring pressure on the bulb L against the threadsin the lamp socket 33. Consequently, if the lampbulb L- should become loosened from its seat againstthe shoulder 35 as a result of intense vibration, it will not become unscrewed from the socket 33 far enough to become disconnected from the contact spring 44 and thereby become in- 1:3

operative. Instead,it will become unscrewed only a portion of a turn necessary to distort the spring 44 so its resistance equalsand counteracts the rotative forceof the lamp bulb L. I

Mounted upon" the outside of the casing 10 i is a conventional switch 47 whichisconnected to the diaphragm 28 by the .usual contact strip 48. When the switch 47 isinclosed. circuit position the path of the electric-circuit 1; tl'irough the flashlight is from the positive Ker-c minal '42 of thebattery B to the conductor 40,

conta'ct'spring 44 lamp bulb L, bulb socket 33, diaphragm 28-,'contact -strip 48, switch 4:7

casing 10, end cap 11, and battery support 12',

to the negative terminal of thebattery Ifthe' light beam projected from the'flashlight when it is in operation is-distorted on account of the lamp an'd'reflectornot being in focus, theymay be adjusted axially by if screwing the end cap 11' either on or oil" the casing 10,to' a'greateror less extent, thereby moving the battery support 1 2, battery'B, lamp socket 33, and bulb-L, in relation to the reflector. holds the clamping ring 22, bezel 26, cover glass G, and reflector R,in axial alignment with the head fitting 16, sotherefle'ctor R is,

consequently, in axial alignment with the bulb L. If the fil ament off the b'ulbfL is not-iii Normally, -tlie ,res'ilient ring- C axial. alignment axial alignment with the base 34 and consequently, not in alignment with the axis of the reflector R, the bezel 26 may be partially unscrewed from the clamping ring 22 to release the reflector R- and cover glass G, and then the ring 22, bezel 26, cover glass G, and reflector B, may be manually moved transversely to the axis of the reflector and bulb, against the pressure of the resilient ring C, and in a direction indicated by the character of the proj ected light beam, so the axis of the reflector R and the filament of the bulb L are in coincidence where they may be held by tightening the bezel 26. By a combination of the above mentioned axial and transverse movements the bulb and reflector may be quickly and accurately focalized. As the resilient ring C normally holds the reflector in axial alignment with the bulb, the transverse foca izing adjustment need not be used except in cases where the lamp filament is not in axial alignment with the lamp base.

By removing the head fitting 1.6 and its associated parts from the casing the lamp bulb L is exposed so it may be removed from the socket 823 and reinserted or replaced without injuring o r soiling the reflector in any way.

Various changes in the form, construction, and a rangement of the component parts of the flashlight may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the rights thereunder.

I claim:

1. The combination in a flashlight compri ing a lamp bulb, relation thereto, lamp bulb along resilient member of means for moving said the axis of saidreflector, a for holding said reflector in with said lamp bulb, and means for moving said. reflector out of axial alignment with said bulb against the pressure of said resilient member.

2. The combination in a flashlight comprislamp bulb, and a reflector in operative thereto, of means for moving said i ient member 1 alignment with said lamp bulb, means moving said reflector in any direction transverse to its axis against the pressureof said resilient member to adjust said reflector out of axial alignment with said lamp bulb, and means for holding said reflector in any of its adjusted positions.

3. The combination with a flashlight comprising, a casing, a reflector within said casmg, a bulb within said. casing and in operative i relation to said reflector, a battery within said casing adapted for energizing said bulb,

a cap closing one end of said casing and ad 'usta Jlthereon, and rigid means within said cap for supporting said battery within said casing, of means including said battery and said rigid means for moving said bulb along and a reflector in operative the axis of said reflector by adjusting said cap on said casing, a resilient member for holding said reflector in'axial alignment with said bulb,meanst'or moving said reflector in any direction transverse to its axis against the pressure of said resilientmember to adjust said reflector out of axial alignment with said bulb, and means forholding said reflector in any of its adjustedpositions.

4. In a. flashlight, a reflector having an aperture at its apex, a lamp bulb projecting through said aperture inoperative relation said reflector, a resilient member for holdting said reflector in axial alignment with said lam bulb and means for movin said re,

flector against thepressure of said resilient member to position said reflector out of axial alignment with said lamp bulb.

5. In a flashlight, a reflector havingan aperture atits apex, a lamp bulb projecting through said aperture in operative relation to said reflector, a resilient member for holding said reflector in axial alignment with said lamp bulb,1means for moving said reflector against thepressure of said resilient memberto adjust. the posit-ionof said reflector so it is out of axial alignment with said lamp bulb, and means for retaining said reflector in said adjusted position.

6. In a flashlight, a reflector having an aperture at its apex, a lamp bulb projecting through said aperture in operative relation to said reflector, a resilient rubber ring for holding said reflector in axial alignment with said lamp bulb, means for moving said'reflector against'the pressure of said resilient rubber ring to adjust the position of said reflector so it is out of axial alignment with said lamp bulb, andmeans for retaining said reflector in said adjusted position.

'7. In a flashlight, a tubular metal casing having an expanded "end with a thread thereon, a sleeve of insulating material within said expanded end, adiaphra'gm in said casing having a flange resting on said sleeve, a lamp socket carried by said diaphragm, a

lamp in said lamp socket, an apertured wash- 'er of insulating material resting on said flange, a head fitting threaded to said expanded end and clamping said washer, said diaphragm and said sleeve to said casing, an apertured reflector carried by said head fit ting in operative relation to said lamp, a battery within said casing, and means for completing the circuit through said battery and lamp at will.

8. In a flashlight, a tubular metal casing,

a diaphragm within said casing having a central depending integral sleeve, a lamp socket Within said sleeve, an upper flange extending outwardly from the upper end of said lamp socket, a lower flange extending outwardly from the lower end of said lamp socket, a spring confined between the under side of said diaphragm andthe upper side of v 'pleting the electric circuit through said batsaid lower flange in a partially compressed condition, a washer of insulating material having an aperture thereinriveted ina re-' cess in the lower end of said lamp socket, a conductor riveted in the aperture in said washer, a lamp in said lamp socket, a coiled spring carried by said conductor and con- 'tacting with said lamp a reflector carried by said casing in operative relationto said lamp, means for moving said lamp socket in said sleeve to focalize said lamp and said reflector, a battery within said casing, and means for completing the circuit through said battery and said lamp at will. i

9. In a flashlight, a casing'having a lamp bulb therein; a head fitting threaded to said casing and having an outturned flange on the upper end thereof; an apertured reflector having a flat rim with an upturned edge resting on said flange so said reflector is in operative relation to said lamp bulb and is movable laterally with respect to said bulb and said head fitting; a cover glass resting on said flat rim within the upturned edge thereof and movable therewith; a threaded bezel resting on said cover glass and movable therewith; a clamping ring threaded to said bezel and resting against the under side-of said flange and movable with said reflector,

cover glass, and bezel, to align the axis of said reflector with the filament of said lamp,

and adjustable with respect to said bezel to secure said reflector and cover glass in any adJusted position; a rubber ring confined between said clamping ring and said head fitting in a partially compressed condition for the purpose of normally holding said reflector in axial alignment with the'base of said lamp but permitting said reflector to be moved out of axial alignment at will a battery within said-casing; and means for comtery and saidlamp bulb at will. 7 -,-In testimony whereof, I afllx my signa ture.

LEE J; VOORHEES. V 

